10 Chapter 10

The next day when I woke up the sky was clear, and the sun was bright. Charley showed up while we were eating breakfast, "When did they come?" He asked seeing Fred and Harry. "Middle of the night," Ben answered. "We'll go back and have Jon come and take them to the police," Ben added. Charley nodded, I got up and started cleaning some of the food and things, "Why are you storing all this?" Ben asked. "In case we come back," I smiled. "This is a hunting cabin, you're going to come back here?" He asked. "You never know," I shrugged. Ben hugged me from behind and trailed kissed on my neck, "We need to get moving," he told me. I had on the outfit when we left my house, I put on my coat and Ben helped me on the horse and climbed on in front of me. We talked about our ranch, he already had a couple sheep and a few heads of cattle, and of course some chickens, I couldn't wait to see it. Ben wasn't kidding, it took nearly five hours to get from the cabin to his parents house, I couldn't believe Charley was coming out there every morning. "Ma," Ben called helping me down from the horse. "Oh thank the Lord, Lucy," she said running from the porch. She wrapped me in a hug, the hug that only mother's have, and I felt like I could rest and I nearly fell into her. "Your poor thing, I was so worried," she whispered. "Ben saved me," I told her. She pulled me back to look at me, her eyes glassy with tears, "I'm so thankful, you're ok," she said hugging me again. She pulled back and play hit Ben, "Don't scare me like that again," she scolded. He smiled at her and put his arm around me, "I'm gonna go get the preacher," he told me. I smiled, "No you're not, the sheriff is looking for you. Charley will go," Emma said motioning to Charley who tipped his hat and headed to town. "Come dear," his mom said shuffling me inside. When we walked in, Suzanna saw me and gave me a hug. We never said much to each other but we seemed to always know what each other meant. We went up to Suzanna's room, "It's probably not as nice as your other wedding dress," Emma said pulling out a white wedding dress. "We made it as a wedding present for Lizzie," Suzanna explained. I smiled getting a little choked up, it was a white blousy shirt with a linen colored skirt, with a small corset set in the high waist. I took off my shirt and skirt forgetting my bruises, "Dear Lord," Emma blurted out. I turned and looked at her, her face in horror and I realized it was the bruises. I grew self conscious, "Who did this?" Emma asked. I didn't even want to acknowledge them, "Samuel," Suzanna stated. We both looked at her, "I saw him at the Christmas ball," she added. "You knew this was going on?" Emma asked. "I wasn't sure how far it had gone, but I saw it the one time," she explained. "They've faded," I offered. Emma turned back to me, her mouth open in shock, "He is a horrible creature," she said putting a hand on my shoulder. They finished helping me into my dress and Suzanna braided my hair and pinned it up with a few wild flowers in it. "You look beautiful," Emma said when we were done. "Ma, the preacher's here," Charley called from the living room. "We'll have Charles meet you at the bottom of the stairs, and lead you to the garden," Emma smiled. "Thank you," I said to her and Suzanna. We embraced and they left the room, I looked out Suzanna's window, how I wished my family would have been happy for me. I gathered myself up and headed down the stairs, Mr. Allen was waiting. He offered his arm, Mr. Allen had always been a fairly quiet man, unlike my father which was probably why they got along so well. "Thank you," I whispered as he handed me a small bouquet of wild flowers. He smiled at me, I don't think he knew what to say and it was ok cause neither did I. We walked out the back door and down the porch steps to a small garden that over looked the pasture, the sun was low in sky behind us. "Miss Lucy, I must ask you if you are truly sure about this," Reverend Smith asked quietly. I smiled at Ben, "I am," I answered. "Then let us proceed," he said and continued on with the ceremony. It was a short ceremony, vows, and we exchanged wedding rings, then I heard, "You may now kiss the bride." Ben gently rubbed his knuckles on my cheek and we gently kissed, finally sealing ourselves to each other.

It was nearly night fall when the preacher headed home, "I have to say I was a bit surprised to hear about this, Lucy," he scolded me. "Reverend, I was never meant to marry Samuel," I told him. "But that's what your father wanted," he pleaded. "But it's not what I wanted," I replied. "And you know the sheriff thinks the Allens killed your family," he explained. "He is wrong, Ben saved me," I urged. "I don't understand," he said. "Samuel killed my family, I saw him come in after the McNally brothers. He must've paid them," I explained. "That doesn't make any sense, Samuel was your fiancee," he argued. "I heard him tell my father's corpse I was trash," I spat at him. "I don't mean to upset you child, not on your wedding day," he tried to smooth over. "Thank you for your services," I stated. He nodded and got on his buggy and headed home.

Ben put his arm around me, "Well, we better head home before dark?" Ben said walking toward a buggy. "Home?" I asked walking after him. He stopped and turned around to face me, "Don't you remember Mrs. Allen, I built you, your own house," he said putting his arms around me and kissing me. He helped me into the wagon and we waved to his family as we headed down the road to our house. "What's the matter?" Ben asked on the way home. "Reverend Smith said the sheriff thinks you had something to do with my family's murder," I explained. "I figured a man of God wouldn't listen to gossip," he said. "Ben," I pleaded. "What? That's all it is gossip," he said. "Maybe I should go to town," I said. "That's not going to help," he told me. I sighed a deep sigh, "Let's not fight on our wedding day," he said. "I'm not trying to fight," I persisted. "Luce, I told you I was going to protect you," he stated exasperated. We rode in silence till we came to a house on the edge of his parent's ranch. It was a simple white farm house with green shutters. "There," he said stopping before we reached it. There were wheat fields around it and a few birch trees, "It's amazing," I told him wrapping my arms around him. We rode up; he helped me down and walked to the porch. I walked to the door, "Wait," he called. He picked me up, "I have to carry you," he said. He set me down once inside. There was a giant fireplace in the living room; there was a big table in the dining room. It was all open with big windows to see out in every direction. There were stairs leading up to three bedrooms. "I'm going to unhitch the horses and secure the animals,��� Ben told me. I looked around he already furnished it, I bet he built most of this stuff, like the tables. I stood at a window in the kitchen watching the last bit of light disappear, there were about four rose bushes with buds on them. I took a deep breath, I felt nervous and I'm not sure why, we were alone at the cabin but I guess now was different, we were married. I wasn't sure what to do with myself, I had spent so long waiting for this but now I was afraid and didn't know what to do. I decided to go upstairs not that I had any clothes or anything, but I figured I'd explore a little. I opened the first door, it was a small empty room, and so was the second room, I swallowed hard and tried the third door. There was a large wood framed bed, it looked warm and soft, with a large quilt on top. There was a trunk at the end of the bed, a chest of drawers and a vanity in the corner next to the window. I walked over to the vanity there was a comb and brush laying on it in front of the mirror, they were silver with ornate decorations on the spines. It gave me the idea that maybe if I go about my normal routine, maybe the nervousness would go away. I sat down on the stool took off my shoes and stockings and began unpinning my hair, I placed the pins in a small wooden box on the vanity. I began brushing out my hair, "Are those ok?" a voice behind me asked. I smiled, "They are beautiful," I answered turning around on the stool. "I had Suzanna pick out a few things, after I built the house. I figured it would be nice if you had a few new things here," he explained. "That was very thoughtful," I replied softly. His eyes darted around the room, I turn and finished brushing out my hair, while he fumbled with his boots. I giggled to myself as I unbraided my hair, I'd never seen Ben nervous, all the years I've known him he's never showed any type of weakness or nervousness. I stood and attempted to reach the zipper on my back, as he turned the blankets down, when I had unzipped it as far as I could I walked over to Ben, "Would you unzip this?" I asked. He coughed and stood, gently taking the zipper and pulling down, his finger tips brushed my back. I felt his head rest on the back of mine, his warm breath tickled the back of my neck. I pulled the shirt off and draped it on the end of the bed, his fingers then brushed gently down my arms causing my breath to hitch. I felt him trail soft kisses from my ear down my neck as he unzipped my skirt and it dropped to the ground in a heap. I undid the clips on my corset and put it on top of my shirt, I could hear his breathing as I turned around slowly. His blue eyes locked on to mine and I felt safe and comforted. I took a deep breath and began unbuttoning his shirt, he tossed it next to mine on the end of the bed. He took off his pants and there we stood in nothing but our undergarments. I looked up at him, he put his hands around my waist, pulling me close and kissed me. My nervousness began to fade as his tugged at the ribbon holding my camisole together, his hands slid it down my back and I pushed into him, trying to hid myself. His hands cupped my face and eased it up to look at him, "Are you ok?" He murmured. I nodded sheepishly, his hands caressed down my stomach and pushed my slip down. I stood there naked, the nervousness returning, Ben backed me up against the side of the bed. I sat back and pushed myself into the middle of the bed as he undid his shorts and climbed in. He pulled the blanket up, I laid back as he scooted closer, he caressed my cheek searching my face, "Stop me, if it's too much," he told me. I nodded and he gently pulled my legs apart climbing between them, he kissed me gently as I felt his erection slowly slide into me. I whimpered and closed my eyes in pain, he stopped letting my muscles get use to him being there. I tried reminding myself to breathe as he slowly pulled out and pushed back in, I tried not to whimper this time. As he continued to thrust it began to feel good and no longer painful, a moan escaped me and he stopped. "Are you ok? Is it that bad?" He asked concern washing his face. I opened my eyes, "I'm fine," I whispered breathy. He began kissing my neck and shoulders and then picked up his pace. I grabbed at the sheet and my back arched, unable to handle the pleasure, his breathing grew ragged as he watched me being undone. With a final moan my body relaxed, he buried his face in my neck as his body tensed, it almost sounded like a growl escaped him. Ben rolled to his back, pulling me to him with his right arm, I obliged him and tangled myself around him. He tipped his head down and kissed me, "I love you," he whispered. "I love you too," I murmured sleepily, I fell asleep in his arms while he brushed my hair back.